Example of Irregular Verses

The irregular verses, also known as loose verses, are those in which the metric of each verse is of a different number in its syllables; this is independent of rhyming or not. This circumstance occurs both in verses of major art and minor art.

The main feature of the irregular verses is the ability to change and adapt. While regular verses adhere to a strict, predefined pattern of stresses and syllables, irregular verses adhere to divert of these patterns, defying expectations and creating a unique reading experience.

We should not confuse irregular verses with the Free verse. Although both may lack a consistent metrical pattern, free poetry often dispenses completely with rhyme and rhythm, while irregular verses can maintain some form of structure, although this is not consistent throughout the entire work.

When are Irregular Verses used?

The use of irregular verses can be a artistic statement, a way of rebelling against established norms and conventions. Other times it may be a tool to play with the rhythm and sonority of poetry, creating unexpected contrasts and intense emotional effects.

Some poets may use irregular lines to imitate everyday speech patterns, creating a feeling of naturalness and authenticity. Others may use them to reflect the themes and emotions of his poetry; for example, a poem dealing with chaos or confusion may use irregular lines to evoke these feelings in the reader.

In any case, the main purpose of irregular verses is to expand the possibilities of poetry, offering greater freedom and flexibility to both the poet and the reader.

Characteristics of Irregular Verses

1. Varied Structure: Irregular verses do not follow a constant metrical pattern, which means that they can vary in terms of number of syllables, accents, and rhyme.

2. Variable Rhythm: Since they are not constrained by a strict metrical pattern, irregular verses can feature a more dynamic and varied rhythm.

3. Inconsistent rhyme: Some irregular lines may use rhyme, but this rhyme is not necessarily constant or regular throughout the work.

4. Imitation of Everyday Speech: Many irregular verses attempt to mimic everyday speech patterns, which can create a sense of naturalness and authenticity.

5. Emotional Expression: Irregular verses are often used to communicate complex emotions and experiences, as the flexibility of their structure allows for greater depth and nuance in expression.

6. Artistic Rebellion: The use of irregular verses can be a way to rebel against literary norms and conventions, and to explore new forms of poetic expression.

7. Surprise Element: Irregular lines can add an element of surprise and novelty to poetry, breaking the reader's expectations and creating a unique reading experience.

Differences between regular verses and irregular verses

Regular Verses	Irregular Verses
Structure	They have a constant metrical pattern, with a specific number of syllables and a set pattern of stresses and rhymes.	They do not have a constant metric pattern. The length, rhythm, accents, and rhyme may vary throughout the poem.
Flexibility	The metric structure is fixed and must be followed throughout the poem.	The metrical structure is flexible, allowing for greater variety and freedom of expression.
Style and Effect	They create a steady rhythm and sound that can add a musical effect to the poem.	They allow for a greater range of rhythms and sounds, which can be used to create specific effects, such as imitating natural speech or conveying certain emotions.

• Related: Regular Verses

10 Examples of Irregular Verses

1. "Heights of Macchu Picchu"
Author: Pablo Neruda
Verse:

"I love the piece of land that you are,
because in the black grapes of death,
in the rude clusters of the sea,
I have found the height so desolate,
and there, woman of love, your body."

Analysis:

Neruda uses irregular verses that do not follow a specific metrical pattern or a constant consonant or assonant rhyme. The verses vary in length, some are shorter, others longer, breaking any predefined metrical form. This irregularity allows Neruda to capture the rugged and majestic Andean landscape in his poetry.

2. "Simple verses"
Author: Jose Marti
Verse:

"I am an honest man
where the palm grows from,
and before I die I want
cast my soul verses."

Analysis:

Although at first glance, Martí's verses might seem regular due to the consonant rhyme ("sincero" rhymes with "quiero" and "palm" with "soul"), the meter is not constant, varying between verses of 6 and 7 syllables, which gives them a structure irregular. The metric irregularity is aligned with the simplicity and sincerity that Martí seeks to convey in his poem.

3. "Poet in New York"
Author: Federico Garcia Lorca
Verse:

"A river of lions dazzles the dawn
on the old roof the gypsies speak
to the heart of darkness
and a centaur jingles by."

Analysis:

These verses by Lorca are a clear example of free verse, an irregular verse form. There is no rhyming pattern, and the number of syllables in each verse varies widely, from 6 to 10 syllables. This free structure allows Lorca to capture the chaotic and vibrant nature of city life.

4. "Songbook and ballads of absences"
Author: Miguel Hernandez
Verse:

"My mouth feels full
of ashen earth,
decomposed autumn,
of sleep and root."

Analysis:

Hernández also uses free verse, an irregular verse form, in this stanza. There is no constant rhyme scheme and the number of syllables in each verse is variable, varying between 4 and 6 syllables. The irregular structure of the verses reflects the intense and changeable emotionality that Hernández wants to communicate in his poem.

5. "To a Rose"
Author: Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz
Verse:

"Divine rose that in gentle culture
you are, with your fragrant subtlety,
purple mastery in beauty,
snowy teaching to beauty."

Analysis:

Although these verses by Sor Juana follow a constant rhyme scheme, the meter is irregular. The stanza begins with an 8-syllable verse, followed by a 9-syllable verse, then an 8-syllable verse, and finally a 9-syllable verse. This irregular rhythm contributes to the delicacy and charm of the poem, reflecting the ephemeral beauty and fragility of a rose.

6. "The Pirate Song"
Author: José de Espronceda
Verse:

"With ten cannonry per band,
Wind in their sails,
does not cut the sea, but flies,
a brigantine sailing ship."

Analysis:

In "La canción del pirata", Espronceda plays with the irregularity in the length of the verses, oscillating between verses of 8 and 7 syllables. This variation of meter, along with assonance rhyme, provides a unique rhythm and musicality that evokes the adventure and freedom of the pirate life.

7. "Sonatina"
Author: Ruben Dario
Verse:

"The princess is sad... what will the princess have?
Sighs escape from his strawberry mouth,
that he has lost his laugh, that he has lost his color."

Analysis:

Although these verses by Darío present an assonant rhyme, the meter is not constant. The verses go from 8 to 11 syllables, giving rise to an irregular rhythm. The variability in the length of the verses reinforces the melancholic tone and the sense of loss in the poem.

8. "I have walked many paths"
Author: Antonio Machado
Verse:

"I have walked many paths,
I have opened many paths;
I have sailed in a hundred seas,
and moored in a hundred banks."

Analysis:

In these verses, Machado uses a consonant rhyme, but the meter is variable, with verses of between 6 and 8 syllables. This metric irregularity contributes to the feeling of travel and movement that Machado seeks to convey in the poem.

9. "The Unfaithful Married"
Author: Federico Garcia Lorca
Verse:

"And how did you find me,
you raised me from the dead
Well, look, I was in a state
to follow my dead husband."

Analysis:

Lorca's verses in "La casada infiel" are irregular in both meter and rhyme. The verses range between 8 and 11 syllables, and do not follow a constant rhyme scheme. This use of irregular lines allows Lorca to effectively explore the character's complex emotions and conflicts.

10. "Captain's Verses"
Author: Pablo Neruda
Verse:

"Love is not seen with the eyes
but with the soul
and that makes the river invisible
flow freely."

Analysis:

The verses in Neruda's "Versos del Capitán" are an example of irregular verses. They do not follow a fixed rhyme pattern, and the length of the verses varies between 6 and 8 syllables. This irregularity reinforces the free and fluid character of love that Neruda describes in his poem.

Poem with Irregular Verses

The moon dances in the black sky (8 syllables)
looking for the lost stars (9 syllables)
His flashes of light (6 syllables)
They are dreams made of silver. (7 syllables)

The wind tells stories (7 syllables)
to the trees awake at night. (10 syllables)
Whispers in the leaves, (6 syllables)
songs of love and sorrow (9 syllables)

The sea, with his deep voice, (7 syllables)
speak to the rocks of his journeys. (10 syllables)
Under the moon, under the wind, (8 syllables)
they listen to eternity the stories of him. (9 syllables)

A little boy, in his bed, (8 syllables)
dreams of the moon dance. (9 syllables)
The wind in his stories, (6 syllables)
the sea in its cradle of dreams. (8 syllables)

And so, the night passes, (6 syllables)
between dances, stories and songs. (9 syllables)
Life goes on its way, (7 syllables)
under the moon, the wind and the sea. (9 syllables)